From Clinton to Sanford, Why Do Politicians Invoke God When Apologizing?

Wednesday July 1, 2009

Categories: News, Politics, Pop Culture, Religion

Politicians invoke God and the Bible both because it works, and in cases like that of Governor Sanford who compared himself to King David, because it nourishes their outsized egos -- situating their personal dramas within a cosmically significant narrative....

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Filed Under: apologizing, bible, bill clinton, forgiveness, king david, mark sanford, politics, public apologies

posted by Brad Hirschfield @12:00pm Permalink email icon

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hootie1fan

July 1, 2009 3:33 PM

"Why Do Politicians Invoke God When Apologizing?"

Because like you said, it works, especially for Republican politicans. Well it works for the straight ones.

And we the voters tend to not look beyond the superficial. Heaven forbid we look at things such as a candidate's record as opposed to whether or not he simply pretends to believe as we do for political and financial gain.

daniel

July 1, 2009 9:11 PM

Are you marry if not you shall burn / If your not marry to Jesus Christ you shall burn Amen

Your Name

July 1, 2009 9:27 PM

The Prophet Daniel am I sent by are Lord to forfil matthew 24.I live in S.C. because am black force out of Org. like Meals on Wheels because was a black minisrty to the poor and elderly. I was a Volutree for S.C. Karios prison minisrty was force out after 13mos because I was black the only blackman from the street. I just wanted to the tell the truth about are Lord and savior Jesus Christ to the resident. But because the white team member wanted to be all white and because they were giving gift the the white resident and putting money on there book. I told the gov. sanford He did nothing. God is good

Gwyddion9

July 2, 2009 12:06 AM

"Why Do Politicians Invoke God When Apologizing?"

Why? Because if you invoke “god”, well the person is obviously repentant about the situation. It sounds good to the peasants and it’s all appearance. In politics, appearance is everything, even if the only thing one is sorry for is getting caught, appearance is everything.

asc

July 2, 2009 10:22 AM

Why do people ever invoke God? It's a way to abdicate personal responsiblity (the things we can control) and our fear of meaninglessness (the things we can't). "Situating their personal dramas within a cosmically significant narrative" if about as cogent a definition of religion I have ever read (although I would substitute "fiction" for "narrative").

Guy Allen

July 2, 2009 11:04 AM

I think it is because they have observed that if you invoke God your listeners are more likely to forgive you. But no one can see into there hearts to see if they ment forgive me for being caught in the act or if they are truly sorry for the act.

Robert

July 2, 2009 12:11 PM

I'd like to think that at least one of thes public displays of contrition grew from a a profound sense of error and a real desire for change. I'd welcome evidence of this.

But in the recent parade of apologies, it seems to me that the "God-speak" is simply a code that says "I'm one of you" to the audience. And statistics (cited in Steven Waldman's blog, I believe) show that the right-wing religious are more likely to commit adultery, watch pornography, and divorce. So maybe the politician is simply a reflection of his supporters. It's a sad situation.

July 2, 2009 2:31 PM

Perhaps the reason why politicians seek to wrap themselves in the cloak of the Bible is because they, like too many voters, have not read much of it. Perhaps Gov. Sanford would reconsider comparing himself if he knew about the later stages of the story of King David. The later parts of the Kind David story shows that he suffered greatly as punishment for his earlier transgressions.

JanS

July 2, 2009 3:22 PM

Why? Because God is the final authority -- which should be the correct answer. But politicians only invoke God when it furthers their secular causes. Confession and forgiveness should be quiet and humble. But the "I have sinned" moments feed the narcissism for attention starved people like Sanford.